Hot Thai Kitchen

  • Recipes by Categories
  • Kitchen Tips & Ingredients
  • Thailand Vlogs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Patreon
  • Shop Ingredients & Tools
  • Find an Asian Grocer
  • Merch
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes by Categories
  • Kitchen Tips & Ingredients
  • Thailand Vlogs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Patreon
  • Shop Ingredients & Tools
  • Find an Asian Grocer
  • Merch
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » All Recipes » Soups & Stews

    Basic Tom Yum Soup for any Leftover Meats

    Published: Dec 18, 2020 · Modified: May 7, 2022 by Pailin Chongchitnant · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Thai Tom Yum Goong soup is famous the world over, but did you know you can make a tom yum soup with just about any meat you have on hand or as leftovers? It's the perfect way to use up that leftover holiday Turkey, or even a leftover rotisserie chicken!

    A pot of Thai soup with turkey, mushrooms, and tomatoes with cilantro on top

    Want to save this recipe?

    We can email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    If you want something creamier and more comforting, check out my tom kha soup recipe! It uses all the same herbs as a tom yum, but it's enriched with coconut milk and is a little bit milder and more comforting. It's more kid-friendly, and an equally great way to use up your leftover turkey or chicken!

    Love tom yum? Try these dishes!

    This recipe here is a basic tom yum soup, but every variation of tom yum is a little bit different depending on the protein used. So if you love these flavours of lemongrass, galangal and makrut (kaffir) lime leaves, be sure to check out some of my other tom yum recipes!

    • Tom Yum Fish Soup
    • Tom Yum Chicken Soup
    • Vegan Tom Yum Mushrooms
    • Dry Tom Yum Seafood
    • Tom Yum Pizza
    • Tom Yum Fried Rice
    • Tom Yum Spaghetti

    4 Other Ways to Thai Up Your Leftovers

    This recipe is part of the 4 Ways to Thai Up Your Leftovers article. Be sure to check that post out for 3 other leftover ideas!

    All my recipes come with step-by-step video tutorials with extra tips not mentioned in the blog post, so make sure you watch the video below to ensure success! And if you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you!


    YouTube video
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    A pot of Thai soup with turkey, mushrooms, and tomatoes with cilantro on top

    Leftover Roast Tom Yum Soup

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
    • Author: Pailin Chongchitnant
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 15 mins
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Turn your leftover roast into a hot and sour Thai lemongrass scented soup. Be sure to check out other soup variations in the post above!


    Ingredients

    • 3 ½ cups unsalted stock (see note)
    • 3-4 Thai chilies, to taste
    • 2 stalks lemongrass (bottom half only), smashed until broken and cut into 2-inch pieces
    • 10-15 slices galangal
    • 5 makrut lime leaves
    • 1-2 tablespoon fish sauce
    • 1-2 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 cup oyster, beech, or another Asian mushrooms (optional)
    • 2 cups leftover cooked meat, chopped into bite-sized pieces
    • ¾ cup halved cherry tomatoes (do not add if making tom ka)
    • 3-4 tablespoon lime juice
    • Chopped cilantro or green onions
    • Jasmine rice for serving

    Want to save this recipe?

    We can email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!


    Instructions

    1. In a medium pot, bring the stock to a boil.
    2. Meanwhile, smash the Thai chilies with a pestle so they are broken but still hold together as 1 piece, or cut them into large chunks.
    3. Once the stock is boiling, add chilies, lemongrass, galangal, and makrut lime leaves; simmer for 5 minutes.
    4. Season with the lower amount of fish sauce and sugar within the range above (you can ramp it up later), then add mushrooms and simmer for another 2 minutes to cook. 
    5. Add the meat and tomatoes and cook just until the meat is heated through. Turn off the heat, add lime juice, then taste and adjust seasoning. 
    6. Stir in fresh herbs.

    Note: The lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves are not meant to be eaten. You can remove them before serving or be sure to tell your guests not to eat them.


    Notes

    You can make a basic stock from the bones of your roast by simply simmering them in water for a few hours. This will work for chicken, turkey, or beef bones. You can add some aromatic vegetables such as onions, carrots, garlic, and lemongrass tops if you wish, but it is not necessary. If you don't have any bones, use store bought unsalted or low-sodium chicken stock. Do not use store bought beef stock for this as it has too strong a flavour.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @HOTTHAIKITCHEN on Instagram and hashtag it #HotThaiKitchen!

    More Soups & Stews

    • A bowl of noodle soup with fish cakes
      Classic Thai Noodle Soup - Street Style
    • a bowl of mama tom yum noodles with various toppings.
      Viral Tom Yum Instant Noodles (Mama Jeh O)
    • A bowl of thai glass noodle soup with egg tofu
      Thai Glass Noodle Soup: My Weekly Staple (Gaeng Jued)
    • a bowl of khao soi with chicken drumsticks with condiments on the side.
      Khao Soi: Thai Curry Noodle Soup

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
    Recipe Rating





    Sawaddee ka!

    I'm Pai, a chef, author, and YouTuber. I'm here to demystify Thai cuisine and help you cook great Thai food at home. Want to learn more about me?

    Here's my story

    My Latest Cookbook

    Popular Classics

    • a plate of cashew chicken
      Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe
    • A plate of Thai grilled steak salad with sticky rice - nam tok neua
      Thai Grilled Steak Salad - Neua Yang Nam Tok
    • A plate of pad thai with shrimp and a side of lime and bean sprouts
      Authentic Pad Thai Recipe ผัดไทย
    • a bowl of tom yum soup with shrimp, mushrooms, lemongrass and chilies
      Tom Yum Goong Recipe (Creamy Version)

    Footer

    Subscribe to my newsletter!

    Subscribe for free!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Merch
    • All Recipes
    • Contact
    • My Cookbook
    • Patreon
    ↑ back to top

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © Pailin's Kitchen Inc. 2025

    A grid of 4 images of Thai dishes that use leftover roast. With text: 4 Thai recipes for your leftover roast"